Dapsone for the treatment of acne vulgaris: do the risks outweigh the benefits?

Abstract

Dapsone is a “4,4′-diamino diphenyl sulfone” compound and an aniline derivative from synthetic sulphones. Sulphonamides were first used in humans as antimicrobial agents to treat streptococcal infections. Dapsone derived from sulphonamides was first used in the treatment of leprosy in 1940. Today, Dapsone treatment is among the treatment options for many dermatological diseases. Acne vulgaris is a chronic inflammatory disease, which causes scar formation and changed pigmentation. Acne affects 85% of teenagers, but can occur at any age and can last into adulthood and even lifelong. Through its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant effects, dapsone treatment (local or systemic) can also be used in the treatment of acne. Dapsone treatment can cause a variety of side effects that can be categorized as pharmacological, dose-related, allergic, or idiosyncratic reactions. In this review article, the risks and benefits of using dapsone treatment in acne vulgaris will be evaluated in light of the literature.

Keywords:

• Dapsone
• acne
• safety
• systemic
• local
• isotretinoin

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest for this work and declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Data availability statement

This review article is based on the published available literature.